46: Test the sword and kill people, wash away depression with blood

Although Chu Qing sensed something was wrong, he couldn't change anything.

He was, after all, just a young man in coarse linen and bare feet.

He wasn't the County Magistrate, or Madam Shi, or any other person of high status and power.

The disaster victims harbored resentment because they had no work and couldn't get enough to eat.

"If they were given a job, then... if they could eat their fill, would they still cause trouble with such overwhelming resentment?"

"Why don't the yamen in this world know about 'work relief'?"

"Provide some grain, let them build roads; it's killing multiple birds with one stone."

"Why don't they do it?"

Lost in his thoughts, he returned to Shiji County.

On the streets, there were a few more pedestrians.

However, most people were hurrying along, their faces etched with worry.

There were crowds of disaster victims outside the city, grain prices were rising inside the city, and because there was less work due to the wind and rain, everyone was short on money.

Moreover:

He Qi's death had caused several days of unrest.

People's hearts were uneasy.

Chu Qing walked along, inquiring about Apothecary Li's whereabouts.

As he neared the Jin Family Mansion, he discovered a troubling situation:

"Several small pharmacies in the city have closed down."

"The apothecaries were taken away by people a few days ago."

"Someone is specifically arresting apothecaries?"

"What do they need so many apothecaries for?"

"Is there a plague somewhere?"

"Or... is someone planning to mass-produce Secret medicine?"

A few minutes later:

Chu Qing saw Madam Jin.

Madam Jin looked worried.

Chu Qing asked curiously, "What's wrong?"

Madam Jin hesitated, then finally stamped her foot and said, "Madam Shi is coming soon."

"Have you thought about how to deal with her?"

Chu Qing shook his head.

He also didn't know how to deal with her.

Just then, someone knocked on the door outside.

Dong! Dong! Dong!

The sound was very loud.

Madam Jin frowned. Before she could ask Xiao Tao Hong to check the situation, she heard a loud bang from the front courtyard, followed by the screams of servants.

Madam Jin frowned.

Chu Qing unfastened the long sword from his back and held it horizontally in front of him.

"Madam, please step back."

Madam Jin was stunned. She looked at Chu Qing and murmured softly, "You should call me Godmother."

Chu Qing... "Godmother, please step back."

Madam Jin smiled and retreated.

Not long after, three to five burly men burst in.

They held long sabers, their faces were meaty, and their expressions were unfriendly.

One of the burly men saw Chu Qing, his eyes lit up, and he said,

"Kid, Young Miss Lan wants to see you."

"Come with us!"

Chu Qing shook his head and said, "I'm sorry, I don't know Young Miss Lan."

"If she wants to see me, tell her to come herself."

The burly man's eyes narrowed, and he barked, "You scoundrel! It's your honor that Young Miss Lan wants to see you."

"How can you be so ungrateful?"

Chu Qing sighed inwardly and said softly, "Why can't you understand human words?"

He was no longer a flag-waving minion.

He wasn't someone that just any Tom, Dick, or Harry could order around.

Although the other party was a Wubao Disciples, so what?

He had even killed He Qi.

Would he care about a Young Miss Lan?

The burly man was both shocked and angry.

He had lived so long in Shiji County, and no one had ever dared to refuse to see a Wubao Disciples.

Even the yamen officials had to respectfully greet the Young Miss.

What gave this young man in coarse linen and bare feet the confidence to refuse?

"You ungrateful wretch, come with me."

They were accustomed to being overbearing and reached out to grab Chu Qing.

Chu Qing retreated.

The burly man was enraged and continued to move.

Just then, more people arrived outside the door.

It was Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon's maidservants, and a group of guards and servants, escorting Madam Shi.

Madam Shi looked at Chu Qing, then at the burly men, and said indifferently,

"Get out!"

When the burly men saw Madam Shi, they immediately became like mice seeing a cat. They respectfully clasped their fists in salute, not daring to say a word, and quickly withdrew.

However, before leaving, one of the burly men glared fiercely at Chu Qing.

The guards and servants scattered to take up their positions.

Madam Shi glanced at Chu Qing and said to Madam Jin,

"Let's go to the study."

After speaking, she impatiently pulled Madam Jin to change into her opera costume.

After the two beautiful women entered the room, Chu Qing walked out, holding his long sword.

Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon blocked him and shouted, "Where are you going?"

Chu Qing smiled and said, "I have a small matter to attend to."

Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon's eyes darted around, and they said in unison, "Go quickly and return quickly; if you delay Young Miss's time, you're absolutely finished."

Chu Qing smiled, said nothing, and left with his long sword.

And the Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon maidservants were happy, whispering, "Young Miss scolded him yesterday."

"He must be scared, that's why he's running away."

"Heh heh, it's best if he runs far away, makes Young Miss angry, and she never pays attention to him again."

The burly men who had come out of the Jin family looked troubled and angry.

"Damn it, that kid actually refused Young Miss Lan's summons."

"How are we going to report back?"

A burly man muttered, "How about we wait until Madam Shi leaves, then go back in and grab him?"

The others all agreed, "That's right."

"Otherwise, if we go back like this, Young Miss Lan will definitely punish us."

"Damn it, it's all that kid's fault."

"When we catch him later, we'll make him pay."

And at this moment:

They suddenly noticed a young man in coarse linen on a nearby rooftop, leaping quickly like a dragonfly.

Whoosh!

The young man surpassed them, jumping down from the rooftop.

The burly men were stunned for a moment, then their faces lit up with wild joy: "Kid, quickly come with us to see Young Miss Lan!"

Chu Qing smiled and said, "Don't be in a hurry."

"It's not too late to go after I show you a big treasure."

The burly men were suspicious.

Clang!

The long sword was unsheathed.

Chu Qing threw away the scabbard, held the Double-Handed Mantis Sword, and said with a smile, "My Double-Handed Mantis Sword haven't seen blood or been unsealed yet."

"You just scolded me and made me feel depressed."

"So... I'll use your blood to unseal my Double-Handed Mantis Sword and also wash away the depression in my heart."

The burly men were stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter: "How many years have I been practicing cultivation? How many days have you been at it?"

"Holding a broken sword, do you really think you're a master?"

Chu Qing smiled without speaking, but suddenly lunged forward.

Double-Handed Mantis Sword — Slash!

A burly man roared, blocking with his saber.

Crack!

The Double-Handed Mantis Sword cut through the long saber and split open his chest and abdomen.

The burly man screamed.

Chu Qing passed him by, swinging the five-foot Double-Handed Mantis Sword like a scythe.

Crack!

Crack!

Where the sword passed, men were severed.

Chu Qing raised his sword, its blade stained with blood, but the edge was undamaged.

"Good sword!"

"Thank you all for giving me the opportunity to test my sword!"

After speaking, he picked up the scabbard and turned to leave.

Behind him, the severed burly men were not yet dead.

They wailed and writhed.

"You killed us just for scolding you a few times?"

"What a cruel heart."

"Young Miss Lan will not let you go."

Chu Qing smiled, not even looking at them, and walked straight away.

The burly men first wailed and cursed; then came fear and regret.

Finally, they slowly died... The four maidservants of Wind, Flower, Snow, Moon were quite surprised to see Chu Qing return so quickly.

Chu Qing passed them by.

Feng Nü wrinkled her small nose and muttered, "He... seems to have the smell of blood on him."

The other maidservants looked surprised.

They all looked at Chu Qing's retreating figure and secretly wondered:

"How does a young man in coarse linen, a low-class Mud Leg, have the smell of blood on him?"

"Was he beaten?"

"Or..."